Its rather intriguing why another Cartosat-2 series satellite was added later to the plan. Considering that the satellite is named 2ER and not 2F I wonder whether one of the earlier satellites met with an as yet undisclosed failure, or that they felt a need for an additional satellite in the fleet.

Its rather intriguing why another Cartosat-2 series satellite was added later to the plan. Considering that the satellite is named 2ER and not 2F I wonder whether one of the earlier satellites met with an as yet undisclosed failure, or that they felt a need for an additional satellite in the fleet.

I totally agree. Why not move on directly to Cartosat 3? I mean, according to Gunter's Space Page, Cartosat 3 has a 16-kilometer swath in both panchromatic and multispectral modes (respective resolutions are 0.25 meters and 1 meter) while Cartosat 2 has a 10-kilometer swath with a 1-meter spatial resolution.

Where does it say that this satellite is Cartosat-2ER? The article says

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"We plan to launch Cartosat-2 series satellite 3 mission, which is a follow-on mission in the Cartosat-2 series with the primary objective of providing high-resolution scene specific spot imagery, in mid-December," the official said.

There were three previous Cartosat-2 Series missions (Cartosat 2C, 2D and 2E), so I'm not sure why this one is called Satellite 3.

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Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1: Engineering is done with numbers. Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Where does it say that this satellite is Cartosat-2ER? The article says

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"We plan to launch Cartosat-2 series satellite 3 mission, which is a follow-on mission in the Cartosat-2 series with the primary objective of providing high-resolution scene specific spot imagery, in mid-December," the official said.

There were three previous Cartosat-2 Series missions (Cartosat 2C, 2D and 2E), so I'm not sure why this one is called Satellite 3.

It was said in the speech of an ISRO official this year. Cartosat-2ER would be flying the manufactured ground spare. Given previous Satellite/instrument failures on other ISRO programmes R typically means replacement. References: INSAT-4CR and INSAT 3DR.

Where does it say that this satellite is Cartosat-2ER? The article says

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"We plan to launch Cartosat-2 series satellite 3 mission, which is a follow-on mission in the Cartosat-2 series with the primary objective of providing high-resolution scene specific spot imagery, in mid-December," the official said.

There were three previous Cartosat-2 Series missions (Cartosat 2C, 2D and 2E), so I'm not sure why this one is called Satellite 3.

There is mention in the annual report and other budget documents that satellite 3 is an improved model? The last three have just been called Cartosat-2 series on the website; no number or letter? So when they say satellite 3, is it not number 3 but another of the same configuration?

"In the next launch, we have a Cartosat along with 28 international commercial satellites, which we will launch in the second half of December," said S. Rakesh, the Chairman and Managing Director of Antrix Corporation Ltd, the commercial arm of state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

There will be 25 nanosatellites and three microsatellites from the US and other countries as co-passengers along the space firm's own satellite of the Cartosat-2 series, he said.

The satellites will be launched into the orbit onboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Rakesh added.

Telesat's Erwin Hudson: first LEO satellite launches November 28 on Soyuz. Second satellite scheduled for Dec. 30 (PSLV). Expecting to launch large batches in 2020, completing the constellation in 2021.

This news report implies that ISRO seems to be feeling the heat of pyrotechnic device malfunction leading to the failure of the ill-fated PSLV-C39 Launch. This sudden but unexpected mission failure of the satellite launch through PSLV seems to have put ISRO in a tizzy as Isro is in the mold of exercising double cautiousness. The failure analysis committee report not yet being released despite more than two and half months being passed appears to imply that ISRO has yet to ascertain the exact reasons of pyrotechnic device malfunction.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After the recent failure of PSLV-C39 on August 31 this year, Isro centres here including VSSC and LPSC are doubly cautious. They are focused on the next mission of PSLV-C40 to launch 31 satellites including Cartosat -2ER by December end this year.

Though PSLV-C40 was planned for launch in November end, it is now decided to launch by December end after a series of tests. "Preparations are on for the next mission of PSLV-C40 by next month end to launch 30 satellites at one go including the Cartosat-2ER satellite. It will be a robust launch," Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) director K Sivan had told TOI.

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All precautions will be taken to prevent any anomalies, he said. In the previous PSLV launch, there was no design fault. The heat-shield at the top nozzle of the rocket failed to release the satellite into orbit and it could be due to a fault in pyro-techniques, he said.

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Normally the heat shield split into two halves at the conical nozzle opens up to release the satellite into the orbit, it failed to open 20 minutes after lift-off, the scientist explained. The heat shield is designed to absorb excessive heat produced by friction against atmosphere during take-off and to protect the components and fuel tanks of the rocket.

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"The reason why it failed could be due to some hitch in the pyrotechnic material of the heat shield or probably failure of the springs to trigger the force against atmosphere to open the shield to eject the satellite out. The exact reasons are being ascertained by the 'Failure Analysis Committee of core scientists and the report will be released soon, said a lead scientist at VSSC.

While a VSSC scientist said, the failure analysis report is ready but it will be released only within the Isro centres. Based on its findings and recommendations all precautions will be taken to avert any failure, we are doubly cautious. A series of tests will be conducted before the next mission of PSLV-C40 slated for Dec end, he said.

Planet is excited to announce that four Dove satellites – our Flock 3p’ – are scheduled to fly on ISRO’s PSLV-C40 in early January 2018. The primary payload for this mission is a Cartosat-2 Series satellite; Planet’s four satellites will ride as secondary payloads.

This is the third time in the last 24 months that our Doves will hitch a ride from India on a PSLV rocket. In February 2017, 88 Doves (the largest satellite constellation to ever reach orbit!) traveled on ISRO’s recording-breaking launch of 104 satellites.

These particular Dove satellites are unique. They are tech demos responsible for testing several of the satellite subsystems, including the camera technology, thermal control, and altitude determination & control system.

Our agile approach to aerospace means we’re always researching the latest technology and thinking about long-term market needs. We launch tech demo satellites several times a year to ensure we are using the most advanced technology. These advancements are then incorporated into future operational fleets.

Planet is excited to be back in India launching on the PSLV rocket. We will have more information on the flight of Flock 3p’ as the launch window nears. Follow us @planetlabs for updates!

Spaceflight performed the cubesat integration at its Seattle Integration Facility and is in the process of shipping the spacecraft to India for the PSLV-C40 mission. The PSLV rocket is scheduled to lift off from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Center in early January 2018 with the Cartosat-2ER navigation satellite, in addition to Spaceflight’s rideshare customers.

“PSLV-C40 is a perfect example of how our flexible, full-service rideshare model is enabling new commercial space businesses to exist while expanding into new markets,” said Curt Blake, president of Spaceflight. “This mission brings new customers from outside the industry into space while continuing partnerships with existing customers for their ongoing satellite constellations.”

One first-time customer on the mission is Finland’s ICEYE with the country’s first commercial satellite, ICEYE-X1. ICEYE developed its own synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) sensor technologies suitable for satellites under 100kg in weight, making it one of the bigger payloads on the PSLV-C40 mission. This is ICEYE’s first proof-of-concept microsatellite mission with a SAR sensor as its payload and also the world’s first SAR satellite in this size, enabling radar imaging of the Earth through clouds and even in total darkness. Potential use-cases for the data are monitoring sea ice movements or marine oil spills, and prevention of illegal fishing.

“Working together with Spaceflight to schedule and make this launch a reality has been an outstanding experience for ICEYE, and it has given us the necessary opportunities for scaling up operations for our constellation of micro-SAR satellites as planned,” said Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and co-founder at ICEYE.

Spaceflight offers customers the most options for getting to space, working with nearly every global launch vehicle provider, including the Falcon 9, PSLV, Antares, Cygnus, Electron, Soyuz and others. Much like buying an airline ticket that is valid on multiple airlines, Spaceflight can ensure organizations have flexibility to move vehicles if changes or delays occur. Additionally, the smallsat rideshare service model helps organizations reach a desired orbit at a much lower cost than buying their own launch vehicle.

Spaceflight has negotiated the launch of more than 120 satellites on behalf of its customers and has contracts to deploy nearly 200 more through 2018. The company plans to coordinate and deploy its largest launch to date in 2018 with its first dedicated rideshare mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9.

About Spaceflight

Spaceflight is revolutionizing the business of spaceflight by delivering a new model for accessing space. A comprehensive launch services and mission management provider, the company provides a straightforward and cost-effective suite of products and services including state-of-the-art satellite infrastructure and rideshare launch offerings that enable commercial and government entities to achieve their mission goals on time and on budget. A service offering of Spaceflight Industries in Seattle, Washington, Spaceflight provides its services through a global network of partners, ground stations and launch vehicle providers. For more information, visit http://www.spaceflight.com.

Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) will launch its latest remote sensing satellite of the Cartosat-2 series, along with 28 foreign satellites riding piggy-back, only in the first week of January, a top Isro official said.

Director of Thiruvananthapuram-based Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), K Sivan clarified that there will be no launch this month and that launch services, which halted after the unsuccessful launch of navigation satellite IRNSS-1H on August 31, will "resume in the first week of the new year".

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Rakesh Sasibhushan, CMD of Antrix (Isro's commercial arm), told TOI: "The January launch payload will comprise a combination of one Cartosat, 25 nano satellites and three micro-satellites. Finland is the new customer this time. The rest co-passengers are from existing foreign customers. Most of these small satellites are from the US."

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The launch of Cartosat-2 by the PSLV C40 rocket is a follow-on mission of the Cartosat-2 series with the primary objective of providing high-resolution scene specific spot imageries. The satellite, which carries panchromatic and multi-spectral cameras, is capable of delivering high-resolution data.

According to local newspapers the launch campaign for PSLV-C40 only began around december 12th. It is very likely this launch will slip to late January/Early February given past PSLV campaign durations.

...major milestones were met on Christmas day: The team working on CARTO-2F successfully conducted simultaneous post-dynamic deployment of both arrays, stowed and cleared the spacecraft for further activities"

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday said it would launch 31 satellites, including India’s Cartosat-2 series earth observation space craft, in a single mission on January 10.... “The launch is tentatively scheduled for January 10,” a senior ISRO official said.

ISRO has made a slight change in the flight schedule of the PSLV C-40, which will carry 31 satellites, including a Cartosat series payload. The C-40 will lift off on January 12 instead of the originally announced January 10. The reason given is that one of the smaller Indian payloads is not ready yet. According to ISRO sources, the rocket will lift off from Sriharikota at 9.28 am.

It is interesting to note that there is very little info in the brochure regarding the payload carried by Microsat other than it being a technology demonstrator and a forerunner to a new class of satellites (operating from 300 km orbit?), though we do know from other sources that it is supposed to carry a high-res imager.

This is particularly significant as the section on INS-1C is far more verbose in the brochure.

The curtain raiser video feels better this time with subtitles and statements directly from various Centre directors (Arianespace style?). However it would have been more appropriate if they had provided English subtitles for SAC Director, Mr Tapan Mishra (who typically prefers to speak in Hindi) in the English version of the video.

The 28-hour countdown for the launch of ISRO’s 100th satellite along with 30 others in a single mission, from the space port of Sriharikota, about 110 km from here, began today. On its 42nd mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) trusted workhorse ‘PSLV-C40’ will carry the weather observation ‘Cartosat-2’ series satellite and 30 co-passengers (together weighing about 613 kg) at lift-off at 9.28 am tomorrow.

As the Mission Readiness Review committee and Launch Authorisation Board cleared the countdown, the space body today said, “The 28-hour countdown activity of PSLV-C40/Cartosat2 Series Satellite Mission has started at 05.29 hours IST today". At present, the scientists are involved in propellant filling operation to carry out various stages of the flight, it said.

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The entire launch of satellites is expected to happen over a period of 2 hours and 21 seconds, it said. According to ISRO, the Cartosat-2 series satellite launch is a follow-on mission with the primary objective of providing high resolution scene-specific spot imageries. It carries panchromatic and multi-spectral cameras operating in Time Delay Integration mode and is capable of delivering high resolution data.

They are planning to rebuild the FLP with mobile launch pedestal, rails and an integration building for PSLV (and planned SSLV). The tenders have been floated. Perhaps they would start construction works as soon as SVAB is declared operational. FLP is expected to be out of service for perhaps a couple of years during that, with the increased capacity addition of SVAB keeping up the tempo.

The second ignition should have occurred at T+58:14 or 4:56 UTC with a 4.72 second burn. That was eight minutes ago. The last capture above is at T+59:19, but is still showing a circular orbit of 505x503 km, instead of the predicted perigee of 360 km. That might be because they haven't updated the simulation yet.

« Last Edit: 01/12/2018 04:10 AM by Steven Pietrobon »

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Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1: Engineering is done with numbers. Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

This may have been the last launch address by Kiran Kumar as Chairman of ISRO as his tenure for 3 years has ended. The next launch would probably see K Sivan, the current Director of VSSC, as the new Chairman.

Press conference on the launch live on WION channel.Chairman kiran kumar was asked about the previous failure and replied that they have tightened standards from from 6 sigma to 1 sigma and the failure was a one off.Its still not clear why the bellow didnt work as before ?

The lift-off of PSLV-C40 occurred at 0929 hrs (9:29 am) IST from the First Launch Pad. After a flight lasting 16 minutes 37 seconds, the satellites achieved the polar Sun Synchronous Orbit of 503 km inclined at an angle of 97.55 degree to the equator. In the succeeding seven minutes, Cartosat-2 series satellite, INS-1C and 28 customer satellites successfully separated from the PSLV in a predetermined sequence. The fourth stage of PSLV-C40 fired twice for short durations to achieve a polar orbit of 365 km height in which India’s Microsat successfully separated.

After separation, the two solar arrays of Cartosat-2 series satellite deployed automatically and ISRO's Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at Bengaluru took over the control of the satellite. In the coming days, the satellite will be brought to its final operational configuration following which it will begin to provide remote sensing data using its panchromatic (black and white) and multispectral (colour) cameras.

The 11 kg INS-1C and and the 100 kg class Microsat, the two Indian co-passenger satellites of Cartosat-2, are also being monitored and controlled from ISTRAC, Bengaluru. The 28 international customer satellites belong to Canada, Finland, France, Republic of Korea, UK and the USA.

So far, PSLV has successfully launched 51 Indian satellites and 237 customer satellites from abroad."

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Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1: Engineering is done with numbers. Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

The rapid satellite separations in PSLVs are something to behold. Not to mention the very little time (and space!) interval between separating Cartosat-2F, the enclosure of the secondary payloads and the subsequent satellites... ain't nobody got time for CAMs!

Redmond, Wash. – January 12, 2018 – Planetary Resources today announced the successful launch of the Arkyd-6, a 6U CubeSat, containing a demonstration of technology designed to detect water resources in space. The team has already begun to receive telemetry from the spacecraft. The data obtained from the Arkyd-6 will be valuable in the development of the Arkyd-301, Planetary Resources’ next spacecraft platform and the beginning of the company’s space resource exploration program.

In the process of engineering the Arkyd-6, the Planetary Resources’ team was able to modify commercial hardware to be used in space, allowing for the possibility of deep-space missions at greatly reduced costs. This process also allows for control at every stage of development and production resulting in a reliable and innovative product.

“The success of the Arykd-6 will validate and inform the design and engineering philosophies we have embraced since the beginning of this innovative project,” said Chris Lewicki, President and CEO, Planetary Resources. “We will continue to employ these methods through the development of the Arkyd-301 and beyond as we progress toward our Space Resource Exploration Mission.”

Out of 17 elements that will be tested during Arkyd-6’s flight, one of the most crucial technologies is the onboard mid-wave infrared (MWIR) imager. The technical team qualified a commercial sensor to collect pixel-level data and integrated custom optics, creating the world’s first commercial MWIR instrument to be used in space. Based on the findings from this initial flight, Planetary Resources will further develop this sensor technology into the most advanced water resource detection hardware available, which will be incorporated into Arkyd-301.

Chris Voorhees, Chief Engineer, Planetary Resources, said, “If all of the experimental systems operate successfully, Planetary Resources intends to use the Arkyd-6 satellite to capture MWIR images of targets on Earth’s surface, including agricultural land, resource exploration regions, and infrastructure for mining and energy. In addition, we will also have the opportunity to perform specific celestial observations from our vantage point in low Earth orbit. Lessons learned from Arkyd-6 will inform the company’s approach as it builds on this technology to enable the scientific and economic evaluation of asteroids during its future Space Resource Exploration Mission.”

Arkyd-6 will be testing additional technologies such as power generation, attitude determination, instrument operation and two-way communication. Although the spacecraft is fully autonomous and able to execute all functions independently, it will continue to communicate with Mission Control through every critical check point.

About Planetary ResourcesPlanetary Resources was founded in 2009 by Eric Anderson, Dr. Peter H. Diamandis and Chris Lewicki. The company’s vision is to establish a new paradigm for resource utilization that will bring the Solar System within humanity’s economic sphere of influence. The pathway in identifying the most commercially viable near-Earth water-rich asteroids has led to the development of multiple transformative technologies that are applicable to global markets, including the agriculture, oil & gas, mining and insurance industries.

Planetary Resources is financed by industry-launching visionaries who are committed to expanding the world’s resource base so humanity can continue to grow and prosper for centuries to come. Some of the company’s partners and advisors include the Government of Luxembourg’s SpaceResources.lu initiative, 3D Systems, the Bechtel Corporation and Analytical Graphics Incorporated; Sara Seager, Ph.D., professor of Planetary Science & Physics at MIT and TED fellow; Dante Lauretta, Ph.D., professor of Planetary Science at the University of Arizona and principal investigator of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission; Members of the company’s technical staff have worked on every recent U.S. Mars lander including Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity, and include other key non-aerospace and safety-critical disciplines. For more information, please visit www.planetaryresources.com.

The primary payload, CARTOSAT 2F (object 43111/18004A) is actively transmitting on S-band, together with several of the other CARTOSAT satellites. It's alive and well, showing active locking to ground stations.

PSLV launch a milestone for India and several companiesby Jeff Foust — January 15, 2018

WASHINGTON — The successful launch of an Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Jan. 11 marked not just the return to flight of the rocket but also major achievements for several of the companies with payloads on board the vehicle.

Back in January, the FCC pulled permission from Silicon Valley startup Swarm Technologies to launch four satellites into space after what it says was an "apparent unauthorized launch." IEEE Spectrum reports that the unauthorized launch consisted of four experimental satellites that the FCC had decided were too small to be noticed in space -- and hence pose an unacceptable risk of collision -- but which the company may have launched anyway, using a rocket based in India. The federal regulator has since issued a letter to Swarm revoking its authorization for a follow-up mission to launch four new, larger versions of its "SpaceBee" satellites. From the report:Swarm was founded in 2016 by one engineer who developed a spacecraft concept for Google and another who sold his previous company to Apple. The SpaceBees were built as technology demonstrators for a new space-based Internet of Things communications network. Swarm believes its network could enable satellite communications for orders of magnitude less cost than existing options. It envisages the worldwide tracking of ships and cars, new agricultural technologies, and low cost connectivity for humanitarian efforts anywhere in the world. The four SpaceBees would be the first practical demonstration of Swarm's prototype hardware and cutting-edge algorithms, swapping data with ground stations for up to eight years. [...]The FCC told the startup that the agency would assess "the impact of the applicant's apparent unauthorized launch and operation of four satellites... on its qualifications to be a Commission licensee." If Swarm cannot convince the FCC otherwise, the startup could lose permission to build its revolutionary network before the wider world even knows the company exists. An unauthorized launch would also call into question the ability of secondary satellite "ride-share" companies and foreign launch providers to comply with U.S. space regulations.

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This message reflects my personal opinion based on open sources of information.

And here’s the original article on these seemingly unauthorised passengers on this flight.

FCC Accuses Stealthy Startup of Launching Rogue Satellites

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Also on board were four small satellites that probably should not have been there. SpaceBee-1, 2, 3, and 4 were briefly described by the Indian space agency ISRO as “two-way satellite communications and data relay” devices from the United States. No operator was specified, and only ISRO publicly noted that they successfully reached orbit the same day.

IEEE Spectrum can reveal that the SpaceBees are almost certainly the first spacecraft from a Silicon Valley startup called Swarm Technologies, currently still in stealth mode. Swarm was founded in 2016 by one engineer who developed a spacecraft concept for Google and another who sold his previous company to Apple. The SpaceBees were built as technology demonstrators for a new space-based Internet of Things communications network.